Relief!

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catherine58
catherine58 Member Posts: 92
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Two years ago I came to this website frightened and miserable, waiting for my cancer diagnosis to be confirmed. I got so much support and am ashamed that I am not a more frequent visitor, as I think my experience might give encouragement to those just embarking on this road that no one seeks ...

Today I got the results of my two year scan ... ALL CLEAR!!! Most of the time I cope (and feel) very well, but I do find waiting for results incredibly anxiety provoking ... I am told that 80% of recurrences happen in the first two years so I would certainly be dancing the naked happy dance tonight, if it weren't for the presence of my 10yr old daughter, who would think I had lost my marbles!

Just to recap on my medical history ... I had a HUGE tumour, "the size of a football", the surgeon told me (classified as T4: there is no T5) and three lymph nodes affected. I was lucky enough to sail through both surgery and nine rounds of Folfox with minimal side effects and today feel better than I have for years. The strange thing is that I can't say that having cancer was an altogether negative experience: of course I would rather NOT have had it, but many positive things came out of it (mostly in terms of human relationships).

I have just had some tests done and have been told that my cancer is very likely to be genetic: the tumour tested positive for "micro-satellite instability" which I understand means there is a 90% chance I have HNPCC (the symptoms were already suggestive of it: tumour in ascending colon diagnosed before the age of 50). The downside of this is that my children may have inherited the gene and that I will be more susceptible to other cancers; the upside is that I gather the original cancer is less likely to metastize (I think I've spelt this wrong, it is not a word I use often, thank goodness!).

Thank you to everyone here for all your support over the years. I wish you all many years of health and happiness.

Catherine

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  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #2
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    awesome news!
    You are indeed a poster child for us! Just shows that cancer doesn't have the power we all have grown up believing it to have. And thank God your children have been alerted of a possible inherited tendency to cancer; they can be extra vigilant and perhaps not have to walk in your footsteps (at least not as far as cancer is concerned!). Hope you continue to feel as good as you feel today for many years to come!
    mary
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #3
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    Thank You.......
    The fact that you did come back to visit (and I have seen you here lately) is a testimony that all of us share the feelings whatever they may be that come with this disease that only we can imagine. You are a testimony that anyone can beat this ......Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It will certainly make a lot of people happy....God Bless you ....
  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #4
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    Yay!
    Hi Catherine!

    Welcome to the world of mutant genes! I'm so glad you are doing so well 2 years later. It is really great to get that "all clear" from the medical folks.

    My family carries HNPCC (all 3 of us sisters are carrying the gene). If you are done having children and have not already had a hysterectomy, it is highly advisable that you get a prophylactic hysterectomy done. Most of us get endometrial cancer at some point, too. Our risks also include bladder, kidney, stomach and some brain cancers, but the highest risk after the colon is endometrial and then bladder.

    So please keep a good eye on your natural rythmns--if you have any unexpected bleeding, insist on a biopsy. I was 4 months out of chemo when I was dx'd with the endometrial cancer. I had a full exam (including vaginal ultrasound) in January, and by June I had cancer. My gynecological oncologist told me that these days, if they know that you have HNPCC before your colectomy, they will go ahead and do the hysterectomy at the same time.

    Anyway, this is off the subject of celebration, which is the main point here. Just wanted to give you a heads-up! Be healthy, be happy and enjoy life!

    Hugs,
    Kirsten

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